Anyone familiar with the relative merits of those little cassette-type head demagnetizers vs. the electronic wand-type units? The guys at our local pro audio place said they'll both do just as good a job...but I'm skeptical. Anyone used both, or know anything about this?
I would go with the "pencil" type demagnetizer. I always use cotton swabs with denatured alcohol to clean the heads and tape path. Then while the alcohol is evaporating, I demagnetize the heads.
*MAKE SURE THE MACHINE IS OFF DURING DEMAGNETIZING". There is a posibility of permanently magnetizing the heads when the machine is on. The tape heads may have a small amount current running through them. I remember reading this somewhere, and I just don't want to take a chance.
I love cassettes and 8tracks and my cassette deck the heads always get dirty.. Especially when I play this one tape..... I usually just wipe off the head with some water or something but that page gives alot of good info..
Never, ever put water on heads. You need liquid that evaporate, hence alcohol. I suppose water works but how do you dry it off? If you have a tape that sheds, copy it now, because it will get worse and worse. Every bit of debris you remove is music!
Yup its a newer 1981 album (1981) - I think it doesnt have rollers in it and the tape is being held hard against the head maybe I dunno... I gotta open it and try to put in a different shell.. (No screws so its not gonna be easy)